ASC's Intersections Newsletter — April 2, 2026
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Nora's Note
Small business holds its own. Arch Street Communications pushed through the federal procurement pause to gain approval for a 5-year renewal of our General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS).
At a time when many small businesses are finding it harder to compete and stay visible in federal contracting, we don’t take this lightly.
GSA Schedule renewal reflects rigorous review and federal validation of our performance, pricing, and capabilities. It ensures we can continue offering government partners a streamlined, compliant procurement pathway and continue to deliver high impact work in areas like transportation, resilience, and energy.
Small businesses play a critical role in delivering innovative, specialized solutions. We're proud to continue doing that work and to remain accessible through the federal marketplace. Let’s keep building programs that deliver real impact.
Transportation
Lawmakers are pushing Governor Hochul to back the revival of the NYC free bus pilot. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's supporters in the state legislature are pushing to revive a pilot program that would make certain bus routes free, building on a previous initiative, which provided no-fare bus service on one line in each borough of New York City. MTA data showed ridership rose on all five fare-free routes during the original pilot, including a 40% jump over the summer months. Lawmakers are now hoping to expand the program to three routes per borough and have even floated an idea to pause the fare for all city buses during the upcoming World Cup tournament. The Governor has signaled openness to the idea, offering encouragement to advocates with her statement that free buses are "not a no — just not right now." Read more about the push, here. (Source: Gothamist)
AMNY: Manhattan Borough President urges Verizon and T-Mobile to bring phone service to subways
Streetsblog: Missouri is fighting to get its first ‘active transportation plan’
K5 News: New Seattle light rail connection draws steady crowds on second day
Climate
A massive solar project is taking shape in California as the state works toward ambitious clean energy goals. California is rapidly expanding large-scale solar, with a Mojave Desert project set to power hundreds of thousands of homes, reflecting broader national momentum backed by research and investment from groups like the U.S. Department of Energy, the International Energy Agency, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. However, the project spans thousands of acres of federal land, raising concerns about habitat disruption and land use. Read more about how projects like this are shaping the future of solar development. (Source: Grist)
Inside Climate News: The Wabanaki Basketmakers' plans to save Maine’s ash trees
Canary Media: The world built more solar and wind than ever in 2025
Happy Eco News: Community repair movement in Portland keeps household items out of landfills
Economic Development
An affordable housing program in Philadelphia pairs Drexel students with older adults. In the Mantua neighborhood of West Philadelphia, a program is addressing rising rent costs and displacement of long-time residents by connecting older homeowners with university student tenants. The program helps income-eligible homeowners make free, necessary home repairs to accommodate a tenant, while also facilitating living arrangements that support both the homeowner and the student. Read more to learn how the program plans to advance more intergenerational housing. (Source: Billy Penn)
Planetizen: Colorado law lets schools, other public agencies build housing regardless of local zoning
Smart Cities Dive: New York City program aims to fast-track affordable housing on city-owned land
Manufacturing Dive: Energy Department offers $500M to scale critical minerals production
Digital
In New York, a few seconds can make or break a commute, and the MTA is leaning into that reality with a newly upgraded app. Built around sharper real-time data, the update refines train arrival predictions, service alerts, and trip planning, translating system complexity into something riders can actually rely on. As transit agencies continue to invest in digital tools, the focus is clear: better information shapes the entire commute experience. Read more about the upgrade, here. (Source: Mass Transit Magazine)
Waste Dive: US textile recycling matures with AI and EPR
Route Fifty: North Dakota moves forward with stablecoin as local banks express interest in pilot project
GovTech: New Metro dashboard shares safety data on LA buses, trains
About Arch Street Communications
At ASC, we help government agencies, corporations and nonprofit organizations across the globe communicate issues that affect people’s lives. We’re the bold, nimble, women-owned small business (WBE) that has supported strategic communications programs to build stronger communities for 30 years.
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